Window-blind.



No. 633,52l. Patented Sept. I9, |899. P. A. LATHEM.

WINDUW BLIND. AApplimnm med July 1a, 1899.) (No Model.) m s Q P W s `Q wi www n 43p( W NrTnD STATES PATENT FincaG PAGE A. LATIlEU, OF GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA.

WINDOWf-BLIND.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 633,521, dated September 19, 1899.

Application filed July 13,1899. Serial No. 723,708. (No model.)

Il; rtl/ 11171/0111, may concern:

Be it known that l, PAGE A. LATHEM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gainesville, in the county of Hall and State of Georgia, have invented a newand usefuVindowllind, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to window-blinds; and it has for its object to provide a new and useful construction of flexible blind designed to be mechanically operated to provide for covering and uncovering the opening ot' a window-frame and having means whereby the lower portion of the window-frame may be screened while the upper portion is left uncovered to provide for ventilation.

To this end the invention primarily contemplates a flexible blind constructed of slats arranged in such a way as to provide an edeotive screen for the window-opening, while at the same time permitting a free circulation of air therethrough; and the invention also contemplates constructing the blind in separate sections which are separably connected together to permit of separation for covering one portion of the window-opening while the other portion is left uncovered for ventilation.

Tith these and other objects in View, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The preferred embodiment of the improvements is shown in the accompanying draw` ings, in which- Figure lis a perspective View, partly in section, of a flexible window-blind constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is Aan elevation thereof showing the two sections of the blind separated to provide for covering the lower portion of the windowopening and uncovering the upper portion of the opening for the purpose speciiied. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several iigures ot' the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral l designates the window-frame, of the ordinaryT rectangular configuration and provided with the usual hollow Stiles 2 to form pockets for the weights hereinafter referred to, and in carrying out the present invention the frame is iurtherprovided at the Lipper end thereof with a top casing orhousing 3, in whichis journaled a horizontal winding-roller et, the spindle extremities of which are mounted in suitable bearings at the ends of the casing or housing 3. The said winding-roller 4E is provided at the ends thereof with the lianged spools 5, to which are connected one end of the weight-cords (S, passing over guide-pulleys 7, supported at the top of the casing or housing 3, and having suspended from their other ends the weights 8, working within the side weight-pockets of the frame and providing means,in connection with the weight-cords 6, for normally causing the winding-roller to rotate in a direction for winding or rolling up thereon the iiexible blind, which is designated in its entirety by the reference-numeral 9.

The flexible blind substant-ially consists of aplurality of horizontal slats l0, duplicates of each other in size and shape and arranged in close parallel relation to provide an effective screen tor the windowopening. The

.blind-slats l0 are provided with overlapping Acords or tapes'l?, arranged, respectively, near the ends of the slats and stapled to one side thereof by means of the staples 13 or equivalent fastenings, such inode of attaching the cords or tapes to the slats obviating the necessity of Stringing the cords or tapes through holes in the slats, as is common in Venetian blinds and similar. structures. The suspending cords or tapes l2 at the upper end of the blind are secured to the winding-roller 4 to provide a support for the blind, aswell as a connection with the roller, which permits the blind rolling up thereon.

To provide for Ventilating a room through the window, as well as screening a portion of the windowopening, the herein-described IOO flexible blind 9 is constructed in two sections-namely, an upper section U and a lower section L. The suspending cords or tapes of the two sections are disconnected to permit of their ready separation and the suspending cords 12 of the'upper section U being extended at their lower ends and connected together to form a liexible pull connection 14, which loosely extendsthrough a keeper 15 on the lower slat of the lower section L and is prevented from withdrawal from said keeper by means of a stop-pin 16, arranged at one side and close to the said keeper and adapted to be engaged by the bight of said pull connection.

Ordinarily the two sections U and L of the blind are connected together preferably by means of the catches 17 or any equivalent fastening that will separably connect the adjoining edges of the blind-sections. One or more, but preferably two, may be employed, and the same are fitted to the upper slat of the lower section L. The catch 17 shown in the drawings comprises a pivotal shouldered catch-dog 1S, carried by the lower blind-section and normally pressed in one direction by an actuating-spring 19, so that when the adjoining edges of the blind-sections are drawn together the catch-dog will spring into engagement with a locking-notch 20, formed in the lower slat of the upper section U.

W'hen the two sections U and L of the blind are coupled together by the catches 17, said blind-sections move together and are guided at their ends within the vertical guide-grooves 21 of the stiles 2 of the frame, and both of said blind-sections roll up together on the winding-roller l.

To provide for raising and lowering the complete blind, it is simply necessary to manipulate the flexible pull connection 14, which when released permits the blind to be drawn up and rolled upon the roller and which when secured to a suitable fastening projection 22 on the frame provides for holding the blind at any elevation.

By unlocking the catches 17 the upper blindsection U may be released from the lower section L and permitted to roll up on the winding-roller without affecting the position of the lower blind-section L, which of its own weight rests within the lower part of the window-frame and screens the same. In this use of the device the upper portion of the window-opening is left uncovered for ventilation, while the lower portion is screened. To couple the two sections together, it is simply necessary to draw upon the exible pull connection,and thereby lower the upper blindsection into engagement with the catches 17.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction,operation,and many advantages of the herein-described flexible blind may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages o f the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed,and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a window-frame, and a mechanically-operated elevating device, including a winding-roller, of a flexible blind formed in two sections separably connected together at their adjoining edges, and suspending cords or tapes for the blind-sections, the suspending cords or tapes for the upper blind-section being extended at their lower ends to form a flexible pull connection, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a window-frame, and a mechanically-operated elevating device, including a winding-roller, of a exible blind formed in two sections and substantially consisting of a plurality of parallel slats, and suspending cords or tapes iexiby connecting the slats together, the suspending cords or tapes for the upper blind-section being extended at their lower ends to form a exible pull connection loosely connected with the lower blind section, and spring actuated catches tted to the lower section and adapted to engage the upper section and separably connect the two blind-sections together, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own l have hereto afiiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PAGE A. LATHEM.

Vitnesses;

' W. S. HUBBARD, J. M. C. MARRY. 

